OH Aimz What a journey is taken when we become mothers! That must of been so tough going through that massive labour and then having to transfer and have surgery...I second PZ on the iron stuff. If you eat meat, bone broth is super fantastic for restoring the blood and getting good iron in your system. After my PPH I ate lots and lots of leafy greens and took spatones liquid iron to help boost my blood supply back up (i also saw a naturopath for some herbal tonics...).

I truly believe that the awesomeness of HB is not only for the support in birth itself but also for that really intense and special bond and support with your IM. I am so relieved to hear that you have this with your midwife, use her as much as you want and can. i cannot recommend debriefing highly enough, it is so cathartic talking about it and working through it (the same could be said even for births that women felt went how they imagined/wanted).

Beatrix: after my threatened preterm labour this last time, i found the wait from the magic 36 week mark to when i had her (39w) to be excruciatingly long lol! all my babies have been before or on their EDD...i couldnt imagine going over i would go bonkers lol.

Cricket: I feel that it is just important to be able to talk about birth. we shouldnt feel the need to edit or change it up to suit expectations ITMS. I have had quite different experiences every time: first birth was traumatic and took alot of processing (had a PTSD), my second birth (HB) was one of those ecstatic, pain-free (yes, really!) simply joyous births, and my third birth (also HB) was really straightforward, simple, challenging and yet, still empowering (but didnt have that ecstatic high during the birth that i experienced the second time). All births are just so so different (even with the same woman birthing!) and each journey is so worthy of discussion with open honesty. That said, i have been guilty of taming down my version of DD2s birth simply because, yeah, i think people dont believe me or think that i might be showing off. i find it interesting though, that the only birth that i feel i need to curb in, is the positive one. people are less willing to listen to those and take them for what they are: someone's birth experience (as opposed to someone just talking themselves up).